Magazine and target feeding apparatus



June 15, 1965 H. c. FOSTER MAGAZINE AND TARGET FEEDING APPARATUS 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed June 12, 1958 INVENTOR. HARRY CLARK FOSTER ATZbRNEV H. c. FOSTER 3,189,015

MAGAZINE AND TARGET FEEDING APPARATU S 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 15, 1965 Original Filed June 12, 1958 Wampum-M ATTORNEY June 15, 1965 H. c. FOSTER 3,139,015

MAGAZINE AND TARGET FEEDING APPARATUS Original Filed June 12, 1958 12 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG-4 INVENTOR. HARRY CLARK FOSTER Mn Law A T TORNEV June 15, 1965 H. c. FOSTER 3,189,015

MAGAZINE AND TARGET FEEDING APPARATUS Original Filed June 12, 1958 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 -=-.11l' 56 I02 I 82 .i 8 6O 88 55A r 59 247 I I A n4 q LL 56/ n4 83 ll3 84 95 as 146 l l INVENTOR. HARRY CLARK FOSTER Wampum ATTORNEY June 15, 1965 v H. c. FOSTER 3,189,015

MAGAZINE AND TARGET FEEDING APPARATUS Original Filed June 12. 1958 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. HARRY CLARK FOSTER WM; 0 am A T TORNEV June 15, 1965 H. c. FOSTER MAGAZINE AND TARGET FEEDING APPARATUS l2 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed June 12, 1958 FIG 7 m INVENTOR o HARRY CLARK FOSTER v 0/ BY 0 N 744m 0 with m m ATTOR/VEV June 15, 1965 H. C. FOSTER MAGAZINE AND TARGET FEEDING APPARATUS Original Filed June 12. 1958 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 I2! i v FIG-6 INVENTOR.

HARRY CLARK FOSTER BY Mail; 0. 0%

A 7' TOPNE V June 15, 1965 H. c. FOSTER 3,189,015

MAGAZINE AND TARGET FEEDING APPARATUS Original Filed June 12, 1958 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 o v N FIG 9) INVENTOR.

HARRY CLARK FOSTER BY 72w; numb-M A T TORNEV June 15, 1965 H. c. FOSTER 3,189,015

MAGAZINE AND TARGET FEEDING APPARATUS Original Filed June 12. 1958 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 CIRCULAR HUB I70 PIVOTED OFF- CENTER FIG I] INVENTOR.

HARRY CLARK FOSTER 7m; 12 wm A 7' TORNE V June 15, 1965 H. c. FOSTER 3,189,015

MAGAZINE AND TARGET FEEDING APPARATUS Original Filed June 12, 1958 12 Sheets-Sheet 10 FIG-l3 INVENTOR HARRY CLARK FOSTER BY Mi; 2? 211m A T TORNE V June 15, 1965 H. c. FOSTER MAGAZINE AND TARGET FEEDING APPARATUS 12 Sheets-Sheet 11 Original Filed June 12, 1958 INVENTOR. HARE) CLARK FOSTER BY 72M; 19 zm ATTORNEY June 15, 1965 Original Filed June 12, 1958 H. C. FOSTER MAGAZINE AND TARGET FEEDING APPARATUS 12 Sheets-Sheet l2 [1G INVENTOR.

HARRY CLARK FOSTER m2: MM

ATTORNEY United States Patent C) 3,189,015 MAGAZINE AND TARGET FEEDING APPARATUS Harry. Clark Foster, East Alton, Ill., assignor to ()lin Mathieson Chemical Corporation, East Alton, 111., a corporation of Virginia Original application June 12, 1958, Ser. No. 741,571, now Patent No. 3,119,383, dated Jan. 28, 1964. Divided and this application Aug. 15, 1960, Ser. No. 6L74 1 Claim. (Cl. 124-47) This application is a division of co-pending application Serial No. 741,571, filed June 12, 1958 and now Patent No. 3,119,383.

This invention relates to target traps'such as are used for throwing targets known as clay pigeons and more particularly to power driven traps wherein targets are automatically fed from a magazine to a throwing arm and said trap is adapted to vary automatically the angle at which the targets are thrown.

In the art of shooting targets of the clay pigeon type, it is desirable that the shooter be unable to anticipate direction of fiight of successive targets. Heretofore some traps designed to prevent such anticipation by the shooter by throwing targets at random angles, have employed chance wheels for the purpose while others have depended upon the random motion of certain of the trap elements. Utilization of power operation, from the same source, instead of manual operation with such traps complicates the mechanism necessary to operate both the throwing and angling mechanism. For example, in such traps the throwing arm is usually operated by a strong spring which must be cocked or energized prior to the firing time and the power requirement for this purpose is thus intermittent. Prior devices have heretofore either operated the electric motor intermittently and automatically in operating the cocking mechanism and the angle changing mechanism, which is unsatisfactory, among other things, from a the standpoint that the motor must on each cocking stroke and angle changing movement start under a dead load with the attending heavy wear. Prior devices have in the alternative utilized complicated clutches and the like to connect a continuously running motor to both the cocking and the angle changing mechanisms.

In addition, all of these prior art devices are such to the effect that the distribution of targets over the flight zone is not or cannot be balanced evenly. As a consequence, some of these shooters will have an advantage over others in that the former will have more targets concentrated in a given section of the flight zone or the latter may have targets distributed widely over the entire flight zone. This condition not only results in an unequal testing of the skill of respective shooters, but is a source of great dissatisfaction among shooters generally. Uniform distribution of targets over the whole of the flight zone in directions unpredictable for respective targets by the shooters would be the most desirable combination for the game of trap shooting. Prior devices have failed to provide this combination, by depending for direction change upon a certain repetitive cycle of uniform motion which has the defect that an experienced marksman working with a given trap is often able with little effort to learn the sequence of direction peculiar to that trap. This enables him to predict with some degree of certainty the direction in which the next target is to be launched, affording him thereby an advantage over competitors.

It is an object of this invention to provide a target trap with a novel magazine containing a large number of stacks of targets which are brought successively into register with the target throwing element.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel, relatively simple, inexpensive loading device operated in conjunction and in timed relation with and by the cocking and throwing mechanism.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel loading device capable of being used in conjunction with the target trap of the type wherein the throwing arm is returned to its cocked position by power means, and wherein the loading device operates in timed relation to movement of the throwing arm to initiate operation of the loading device.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the invention taken at the moment immediately after a target has been thrown;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view in elevation taken on line III-III of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line lV--IV of FIGURE 3 illustrating certain details of the holding, cocking, transmission and release mechanism involved;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the lines VV of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a partial plan view of the throwing arm in the cocked position in the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1 in cocked relation to the target feed shelf;

FIGURE 8 is an elevational fragmentary view partly in cross-section taken along line VIIIVIII of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of the base in the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 10 is an expanded elevational view developed along the line XX of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI of FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a cross-sectional View taken along the lines XII-XII of FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 13 is a cross-sectional bottom view taken along lines XIIIXIII of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 14 is a cross-sectional view of the release mechanism of the magazine taken on line XIVXIV depicted in the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 15 is a diagrammatic view of the electric power and control system employed wit-h the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 16 is a partial side view on line XVIXVI of FIGURE 7; and

FIGURE 17 is a partial bottom view on line XVII- XVII of FIGURE 16.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a trap powered by a continuously running motor which engages the trap mechanism through a clutch system to cock a spring which upon being released rotates the target throwing arm mounted upon a rotatable shaft located in the clutch system, to effect throwing of the target which is then followed by automatic loading of another target to the throwing arm as the result of continued movement of the mechanism. The loading of targets is facilitated by means of a rotary magazine containing a plurality of targets in annular arrangement in said magazine which is indexed by the rotation of the aforesaid shaft through a linkage arrangement interconnecting the magazine and the shaft. The sequence of target throwing, cocking of the mainsprin-g of the trap, indexing of the magazine and neloading of the target throwing arm occurs substantially automatically in the apparatus upon release of the target throwing arm by the operator.

A second motor is provided which engages a novel gear arrangement which createsand transmits a nonuniform motion embodying intermittent acceleration, deceleration, reversing and hesitating motions to the target trap thereby continuously and. independently oscillating the target trap in order to vary the distribution of the re leased targets. V

.' The apparatus of this invention may be described generally as comprising a base 145, a sub-base v144, aframe support 143, a gear. housing 3, a mainspring housing 4, a target. carrier or throwing arm 5, a mainsp'ringman electric motor 248 supplying power fortheself angling mechanism. 'Frame2, and housing-1, 3, and 4 are fixed together by any suitable' fastening means so; as to con sti-tute in effect a single frame. Base 145 contains the r 154 trically by pin 171' at the center of gear 170 and in turn,

- the hub, has mounted rotatably about it a second gear electric motor .7 which supplies power for cocking the trap, ,a magazinesupport housing 1, a frame .2, and an angle changing mechanism and-has mounted on it subbase 144; Frame support 143 is rotatably mounted on sub-base .144 and supports the composite frame described above. Power is supplied by the continuously operating motor 7 to the cooking mechanism and the holding mech anism, releasing mechanism, and sprocket 142 of the indexing mechanism, which mechanisms are contained in 177. Movement of gear 177 is controlled by means of an anchoring link 178pivotally mounted to gear 177, which limits the movement of this second gear about the h o an ac e t n se e the i at a nd e sing motion. This motion is, transmitted to a ring gear 179 which by a second link 148 transmits this motion to the frame for'the desired oscillation of the trap. i

Main shaft'8 through sprockets 11'2and 142, link chain 115 and a Geneva gear assembly, comprising an indexing arm. 109,. an indexing gear .15, transmit through drive shaft 200 and "other appropriate gearing, an indexing rotaryjmovement t-o the target carrier. This indexing .movement imparts to the carrier, step by step, a rotary motion, bringing successive stacks of targets into register a with feedshelf 126 to whicha target is transferred by ap propriate'means. Moun'tedflxedly to the indexing member 15 and sprocket 112'isan escapementcam 194 with a gear housing 3. The target carrier or throwing arm 5 is mounted for rotation upon the upper end era shaft 8 to which is imparted a rotational thrust for throwing the target by means of the mainspring 6 disposed protectively underthe mainspring, housing 4. A rotatable magazine assembly 257'is detachably mounted; on housing 1 and I through appropriate mechanism is indexed by power supplied through the rotation of shaft 8; e

The cocking, holding, releasing',. targetloading mech anisms andithe driverforthe indexing mechanism are. a.

142, mounted on the mainshaft, by appropriate linkages to the rotary magazine. .The 'gear train rotatesthe main shaft 8 to tension the mainspring 6 until themainspring crank 9 attached tothe lower end of shaft 8 is. beyond the foutdead center after which the shaft 8 and ca'rrierarm 5 areturnecl ahead some further distance, Without shock, to the cocked position whereupon the target carrier is held cocked and'the gearing is again setto idle. The rotation of main shaft 8, in addition, during cocking rotates an escapement cam 194 by' means of an appropriate linkage from sprocket 142 to release a target for transfer to a target. feed shelf 126. As the target carrier proceeds to the cocked position, a'target is then automatically fed to the carrier. plate 33 ready for launching. The target is thrown when the release mechanism is actuated electrically from a remote position. In a travel of the throwejected may be controlled, there is provided anelevation adjustment screw 10 mounted rotatably but not slidably on-housing 4 and passing threadedlythrough a swivel 1 1 protuberant surface 280 and a receding surface'28'1 operating a follower which controls the discharge oftargets from. the bottom of each successive stack'whe'n in regist-er with the feed shelf 126. a J The invention will .be better understood from the following more detailed description with reference to the embodiment of *lChQ'lIIVCH'ElOll illustrated in thedrawing.

As is shown most clearly in FIGURES 1 and 9, the entire trap 'is mounted upon a base 145 whichris providcdwith means such "as holes. 249, 250 and-2 63. for attaching the base to any suitable support, and uponwhich .is pivotally mounted a sub-base 144,- Fixed about the periphery @of sub-base144,and in base 145, are a series -of windage adjustment holes. 252 for correction of and fixing the target assembly against variation of wind direction andvelocity. Extending from and integral with sub-base 144 is-an adjustmentarm 242 having mounted .on it abracket 25 1 and containing a hole 253 in circumferential alignment with holes 252. A plunger 285 with Qnotch 245 and enlarged head 286 is placed in sl-idable relationship in hole 253; for. engagement with holes 252. Head 2-86 serves as a base forspring287 whioh f0rces and maintains a plunger head 286' into a hole 252. Pivotally' mounted on bracket 251, .by means of pin 244, is a release lever 243having an end 246'in engagement withinn0tch245. 4 Pivotally' mounted on sub-base 144 by means of a bearing 'assemblyr2-54 is a swivel base 143 which is pro- ,videdwith upright supports 255.. Q l a The bearing assembly is constructed ofmultiple bearlings19i) mounted within outer race 186 and an inner race sub-assembly "consisting of elements 187,188 and 189. Outer race -186;is fixed, by means of a plurality of screws 191, to swivel base 143. The inner race sub-assembly consists of a lower rap/e188 and an upper race 187 sand- .Wiching between them, forappropriateadjustment of the assembly,a number of shims 189. This sub-assembly is 'pivotally carried by the upright 255 of frame support 143 I and the other end of ,which is provided with a crank handle13. 7' V ,1 The second motor 248 mounted independently of the target throwing apparatus drives, by means of an appropriate gear train, a' gear 170 at a constant rate. In ac cordance with this invention, a hub 172 is mounted eccenfixed tosub base .144by bolts 256; a

" Mounted pivotally on upright supports 255 is the frame housing Z by means of elevation pivot shaft 17 .which passes through the upper part of the uprights 255. Frame 2 carries motor 7, the gear housing 3 and. also the magazine support housing 1. lntegral with the upper part of support housing ,1 are magazinesupports 216 into-which is inserted suitable means such as pins 217for attaching a magazine assembly 257. Attached to the front of the gear housing 3 is the mainspring housing or'apro'n 4 which pro- :tectively covers and also provides amount for one end of the ;mainsp1ing 6 ,which provides the sudden thrust of throwing power needed to project a target in desirable v fashiqn; Theiother end of the mainspring 6 is attached to the mainspring crankQwhich in turn imparts a rotational thrust to the main shaft 18,passing throughthe gear housing '3 and journaled atfits' lowerpe'nd inf the. bottom of housing,3. The upper endfof mainAshaftB isindirectly journaled, through thehub, of feed camS-l in. the gear housing cove-r 29 from which the shaft protrudes sulficiently to carry the carrier or throwing arm 5 with its other components by means of a splined fitting 32 at the upper end of the shaft 8. The arm and cam are retained on shaft 8 by spring 258 and nut 259 by means of screw threads also at the upper end of shaft 8.

The target carrier or throwing arm 5 has a carrier plate 33 and a rubber or other resilient material faced rail 34. The arm 5 is formed with an upward .tilt of about 5 as an extension of the circular hub portion 35 which is provided with an opening 37 internally splined at 36 for attachment to the splined fitting 32 of the main shaft 8. At the outer end of arm 5 and supported underneath it is a carrier vplate 33 which supports the target in its initial travel during the throwing operation from the moment of firing to the moment when the target leaves the arm. Although plate 33 in this embodiment is attached to arm 5, it is to be understood that plate 33 could be a separate stationary member mounted on frame 2 and of suitable arcuate length to support the target while it is pro pelled by the rail 34. In this embodiment described, the leading edge of the plate 33 adjacent shelf 126 in cocked position is formed with a project-ion 175 to prevent interference with the trailing edge of the target in throwing. Depending from the carrier arm 5 is the angularly adjustable rail 34, having attached to it by means of fasteners 260, the resilient leading edge 38, and which is pivotally attached at the inner end to arm 5 at the fastener 39 to extend outwardly above the carrier plate 33 at least to the slot 46. Angular control of the target trajectory and control of the levelness of the trajectory is attained by angular movement of the adjustable carrier rail 34 about pivot 39 to a desired position of the outer carrier rail support 41 as determined by the position of support fastener 42 in the arcuate slot 40 in the carrier plate 33. Slot 46 is of such length as to permit the rail 34 to be adjusted to an angle of lead or lag as necessary to correct for the effect of windage on levelness and direction. For example, a lagging rail causes a target discharge to the right with a tendency to a right tilt, whereas a leading rail causes a target discharge to the left with a tendency to a left tilt. To reduce the moment of inertia, the arm 5 is cast of alight metal such as a suitable magnesium alloy or the like and the light metal carrier plate 33, it will be noted from FIGURES 2 and 7 in particular, has a number of openings or cut out sections. It is to be noted that the rail 34 is adapted to be reversibly mounted to compensate for wear.

The main power for throwing the target with the sudden acceleration necessary is supplied at the lower end of the main shaft 8 by mainspring 6 the ends of which are threadedly secured to an adjustable internally threaded mainspring plug 43 at the front end and similarly to a second mainspring plug 44 at the rear for connection to the mainspring crank 9 as shown in FIGURE 3. The rear mainspring plug 44 is pivoted at one end to the crank 9 by means of mainspring crank stud 45 which is rotatable in crank stud bushing 46. The other or front mainspring plug 43 threadedly receives the T-headed mainspring adjusting screw 47 which in turn passes through mainspring swivel block 48 and through a slotted opening 49 in the frame 4. Screw 47 permits adjustment of the mainspring tension. The swivel block 48 permits lateral oscillation of the mainspring 6 without bending the spring. Mainspring 6 is a closely coiled spring. However, in order to permit a relatively heavy spring to be utilized in a longitudinally small space of length mainspring 6 may be a closely wound fiat metal ribbon coiled edgewise.

The mainspring crank 9 is fixedly attached at its hub to the lower end of the main shaft 8 by means of a key 50 and a clamp screw 51. The main shaft 8, as i shown in FIGURE 4, extends through the bottom of the gear housing 3 and is there rotatably supported in a main shaft lower bearing 52. Also fixedly mounted by means of key 261 at the lower end of main shaft 8 and disposed above crank 9 and below bearing 52 is a sprocket 142 whose function will be described hereinafter.

Mounted in the bottom of the gear housing 3 above thi bushing there is a main shaft oil seal 53 disposed between the main shaft 8 and the housing 3 to prevent loss of the oil bath contained in the housing. Upon expenditure of the throwing power stored up in the spring 6 at the conclusion of a target throwing operation, cocking power is automatically channeled from the continuously operating motor 7 through the flexible coupling 262 (FIG- URES 3 and 13) and the worm drive shaft 55 to the epicyclic gear train in gear housing 3 by way of the worm gear wheel 56 (FIGURE 5).

In the gear housing 3, worm drive shaft 55 having a worm 55A of sufficiently steep lead to avoid self-locking, is journaled in worm shaft bushings 57 and 58 (FIG- URE 5). The worm gear wheel 56 and also the firing ratchet 59 are mounted fixedly by means of key 60 on the hub 61 of the sun gear 62. The hub 61 in turn is rotatably mounted by means of sun gear bushings 63 and 64 on the, main shaft 8. Also located in housing 3 is the control cam 65 fixedly mounted by means of the lower splined fitting 66 on the rotatable main shaft 8. Carried on the control cam 65 are the planet studs 67, 68 and 69. Mounted rotatably on a shoulder of the control cam 65 is the internal ring gear 73 with the external ratchet 74. The planet gears 76, 71 and 72 are also in engagement with the sun gear 62; and the ring gear 73. Control cam 65 is provided at its lower end with a cam surface having a protuberant control portion cam surface 75 and a recessed control cam surface 76 generated by a shorter radius than that which generates the protuberant portion 75.

Control cam 65 also has a rim portion 77 in which is formed a holding notch 73 designed for coaction with a scar 79 formed on the lower portion of the sear member 88 which is rotatably carried by shaft 81 journaled in gear housing 3. The upper end of the sear member is provided with an operating arm 82 linked by means of the firing bar stud 83 to one end of firing bar 84 adjacent to the other end of which, resting in slotted end of guide 114, there is provided a firing pawl shoulder or abutment 85 and a control extension 174. This end of the firing bar is adapted to be acted upon by the firing pin 113 slidably carried in firing pin guide 114 mounted on housing 3 under the impetus of plunger 86 of the release solenoid 87 so as to force pawl shoulder 85 into the teeth of the ratchet wheel 59, Extension 174 is a surface limiting the engagement of the shoulder 85 with wheel 59 and thus dotermines the extent of movement of bar 84. Pressing against the other end of firing bar 84 adjacent the stud 83 and tending to turn the bar 84 about stud 83 counter-' clockwise (FIGURE 5) against plunger 86, is the sear plunger 88 which is yieldabiy mounted against the sear spring 89 carried in extension of the housing 3 known as a sear plunger bushing 247. Sear plunger 83 also functions through firing bar stud 83 to turn operating lever 82 clockwise so as to urge sear 79 into notch 78.

In order to reduce the weight and moment of inertia of the parts of the trap which turn in unison during the throwing operation so as to obtain the highest proportion of target throwing spring power, it will be noted (FIG- URE 4) that the control cam 65 is almost entirely hollowed out except for three radial ribs each of which carries one of the planetary gears and connects the rim and cam portions of cam 65 to its hub portion. To further reduce its weight, the cam 65 may consist of a suitable light metal or alloy.

Also mounted in housing 3 is a cocking pawl 91 the hub 92 of which is pivotally mounted on the eccentric hub 93 of the hold back pawl 94 which in turn is pivot ally mounted on and carried by the shaft 95. The upper end of the cocking pawl 91 is provided with a tooth 96 for engagement with the teeth or serrations of the external ratchet 74 carried on the ring gear 73.

up (FIGURE 1);

94 clockwise into engagement with the ratchet '74 (FIG- URE 6). The lower end of cocking pawl 91'carries a follower 97 for engagement with the camsur-faces 75 .and 76 of the control cam 65. One side of the end of hold back pawl 94 is also adaptable for engagement with ing pawl 91 away from the Wall of the gear housing into or toward both the ring gear 73 and control'cam 65; The

other side of the end of hold backpawl 94 is formed to'act as an armature seating against a pawl holding permanent magnet 99, which is mounted on a non-magnetic member 191 carried by and extending into housing 3. Magnet 99 is fastened to member 181 bymeans of a U-shaped strap 106) having limited pivotal movement to aid both poles of magnet 99 to seat on pawl 94. However, the magnet may be rigidly mounted; The structure of the cocking pawl 91and the hold back pawl 94 is such that in cooperation with the gearing these members prevent undesired acceleration and the shock movernent which would result after the mainspring crank stud 45 has passed the. out dead center at theconclusion of the cocking operation.

the operating arm 82 of the sear member 80 (FIG URE 5), when the handleof the trigger 105 is pulled Trigger .105 mounted pivotal-1y outside frame 1 acting through the trigger pull rod 106 and thetrigger arm 107 is disposed above gear housing cover 29 and is attached to the upper end'of trigger arm shaft 103' to the lower end of which dog 102is at- I tached and causes the dog 192 to turn counter-clockwise '(FIGURE 5) to press against operating arm 82 turning the sear member 80 and its sear 7'9 counter-clockwise so as to lift sear 79 out of the notch 78 in the rim.

of control cam 65 (FIGURE 6).

Suitably secured. on gear housing 3 is a cover 29 in which hub 27 of target feed cam 31, mounted on main shaft 8, is rotatably mounted by means Otf an upper main.

Separation of cover 29 and .a greater degree of engagementbetween arm 5 and main shaft 8 atthe splined fitting 32.

Fixedly secured against rotation by means of pin 282 in the lower and forward part of magazine support housing 1 is a shaft 54 having formed at its'lowerrend' a head 283. Rotatably mounted on shaft 54 by means of tegr-al with thisfdisc 15 is an arm 109 having mounted on its end by means of pin 110 an indexing drive roll 12. i The diameter of roller 12 is such as will: permit its engagement within slots 16.

Extending through the magazine support housing'yl is an escapement shaft 198 rotatably supported by bushing 2681 and 269., Fixedly mounted at'the upper end of shaft 198 by means of-pin 295 is an escapement lever 270 from which extends an arm 19.9. Fixedly mounted .on thelower end of shaft 198 is the escapement driver arm 1% hz wing mounted on its free end by means of pin 19;! an escapementi'follower 1 95 which rides in engagement on control surfaces-"280 and 281 of cam 194.

An indexing shaft 200 extends through the rear of magazine support housingl and is mounted thereon at its .lower end 'by means of bus-hing 266 and at its upper end bymeans of bushing 267.; Fixedly mounted on the .upper end ofshaft 200, by means of pin 271*,is a gear .215. Fixed ly mounted on the lower ,end of shaft'200,

.by means of pin 201; is an indexing gear 14.; Gear 14 has four equally'spaced driving slots 16 and intermediate equally spaced locking surfaces 18.

Power to operate the aforede-scribed. driving .disc 15, escapement cam 194yand driving'gear 14 is transmitted to. sprocket 112 by means of 'a linking drive. chain 115 connecting said sprocket to sprocket 142 mounted about main shaft 8. t

Mounted above magazine support housing 1 and in supports 216, by means of support pins 217, is a magazine assembly hereinafter described- The magazine assembly consists ofa circular base 202 containing a network of raised reinforcing members207, 207A, .208, 210, and

228 variou-sly extending' from hubs 227, 227A, 229 and pad 211. Base 202'has mounted wit and extending from it by means of fasteners 265'an annular ring portron 218 completing thefibase structure. Rib 228 defines an area which encompasses escapement lever 270 and hub 220. Annular'ring 218 contains an aperture .219 which defines the'open'ing for a target from a plurahty of stacks supported above the base. Slida'bly mounted in bosses 205 and 206 is. an escapement rod 203 of which one end abuts escapement arm 199 against which it is held by means of spring 214 acting on the other end. Spring 214is' fixedly mounte'd'on base 202 by means of a holder assembly. Spring holder assembly consist-s of'pad 211 and plate 212 which sandwich .fzirligdly between them-.the spring 214 by means of bolts Pivotally mounted at232 by means of a pin 234 on magazine spider 23 about and above opening 219, adjacent the base of each stack of targets is shown a target escapement assembly 235'having'three protruding arms 236, 237 and 238; Pivotally mounted at 'theend of arm 238 by means 'of-screw 233 is a resilient cushion 241 for engagement with "either the bottom or second to bottom target during the operation ofthe trap. I Holding the resi- -1ient' cushion 241" for engagement with the targets is a bushing 284 are escapement cam194, sprocket 112, and a V indexing disc 15. Cam 194, sprocket 112 and disc 15.

are fixedly assembled to each other-by'meansof'pins 21 so that they rotate as a unitabout shaft 54. Escapement cam 194 is provided about its periphery with a cam surface having a protuberant control portion 280, .and a recessed clearance surface 281' generated by a have a sliding fit within the locking sur-f-acej18 of index .ing gear 14 described'below. The disc has through an u are of 90 a concave clearance 28which is formed on .a radius to permit free movement of the indexing 'gear 14 throughs aid clearance 28. Extending from and inspring 271 mounted at one end-by means of hole 272 to .arm-237 and at its other endito magazine outer guide rail 230. I f Q 7 Suspended below, annular plate 218 is a single bracket 164' having mounted within it by means of pin 163 a target feed finger'162- which is yieldably held in position by gravity. v

-Rotatably mounted about themagazine base is a magazine spider 23 mounted on stud '223. having a headed end .275 and which itself passes'through'bushing 278, and

on thrust washer 276, 277 which mounts the spider rotatable-to base 202; to which it is secured by means of lock washer 279 andflnut 224. The interior structure of .magazine spider 23 contains a, hub 274 about which is 'mounted'fixedly by means of key 225 a gear 226 which meshes with gear 2l5 mounted on magazine drive shaft 200. The ratio of gear 226 to gear 215 is suchras will is engaged upon release of button 169.

bring each of the stacks of targets, mounted in the magazine successively in register with opening 219 in the base of the magazine. In the instant embodiment wherein stacks of targets are employed this ratio is 2.511. Mounted on spider 23 are guide rails 231 and 231. These three guide rails define the magazine space for holding a stack of nested targets. At the lower end, rails 23ft extend below the lower end of rail 231 to below annular ring 218. The lower end of guide rail 231 extends to just above escapement cushion 241 to permit free movement of the resilient cushion mounted on arm 233 of assembly 235 and serves as a stop limiting clockwise rotation of escapement assembly 235.

Mounted on the feed shelf operating bracket 125 below the magazine is a target feed shelf 126 which coacts with the target feed arm 127 one end of which is pivoted on the gear housing cover and carries rotatably intermediate the ends of arm 127 a feed carn roll 128 mounted on arm 127 by means of stud 129 and bushing 149 (FIG- URE 4) which follows the profile of the target feed cam 31 and thereby controls the operation of the target feed shelf by means of feed shelf roll 161. Depending from and attached to bracket 125 are a pair of spaced feed shelf guide. rods 131) and 131 which slidably engage with feed shelf guide bushings 132 and 133 which are mounted on and protrude from the upper surface of frame 2 at the feed shelf. Disposed about each bushing and guide rod is a feed shelf lifting spring such as springs 134 and 135 mounted in compression between bracket 125 and frame 2. Accurate positioning of the feed shelf 126 is obtained by interposition of feed shelf shims 136 between the shelf 126 and the bracket 125. It is evident that the feed shelf 126 is raised by feed shelf lifting springs 134 and 135 and is lowered by target feed cam 31 in timed relationship with the rotation of carrier arm 5.

Depending and protruding below feed shelf 126 is a guide 289 into which is mounted a target guide button 169. Guide 289 has at its lower end a slot 252 and a groove 291. Fixedly attached to the lower end of button 169 and perpendicular to its cylindrical axis is a crossmember 293 which in normal use is engaged in slot 252. Disposed about button 169 is a lifting spring 2% which maintains cross-member 293 in slot 292 and forces button 169 to protrude above feed shelf 126 (FIGURES 16 and 17). In the use of the trap for doubles, button 169 is pushed in against spring 290 until cross-member 293 is below guide 289 and out of engagement with slot 292; the button is then rotated until cross-member 293 is in alignment with groove 291, wherein the cross-member In this position the top surface of the button is flush, or slightly below, the face of shelf 126 to permit the inner target, of dou bios, to ride across the shelf without hindrance.

The alignment and timing of the indexing mechanism to the target feeding and target throwing mechanism is accomplished when the trap is in the cocked position. With reference to FIGURE 13, when the trap is cocked, the arm of crank 9 is below its center and to the right. At this position of the crank indexing gear 14 is rotated until the center lines of slots 16 are at about a angle as shown in FIGURE 13. The indexing disc is then rotated until the center of roller 12 is below a horizontal line through its center and to the right in about the same general direction as the arm of crank 9. At this position of the aforesaid elements, an indexing link chain 115 is mounted on and about sprockets 1 12 and 112 which are of equal diameter. As can be clearly seen, each comlete revolution of shaft 8 drives indexing disc 15 through a complete revolution, however driving indexing gear 14 through only 90 or one-fourth revolution.

It is pointed out that when the trap is in the cocked position roller 195 rides on the receding portion 281 of escapement cam 1941. During the rotation of throwing arm 5, main shaft 8, and sprocket 142, link chain 115 causes indexing disc 15 to rotate. During 270 degrees of 1b angular movement from the cocked position of the trap the surface 20 of disc 15 slides within concave surface 18 of the Geneva indexing gear 14, however it is to be noted that after about 225 of angular travel notch 28 of disc 15 just begins to come opposite index gear 1 After 270 degrees of angular travel drive roller 12 of index disc arm 1515 begins its entry into a slot 15 of index gear On continued angular travel drive roller 12 forces the slotted ends of gear 1 1 to rotate within the opening for said slots formed by the passage of notch 28 in rotation of disc 15. On completion of 360 angular path of roller 12, the indexing gear has been given a rotation of again bringing a concave surface 13 of gear 14 into sliding engagement with surface 21 of disc 15 thereby locking gear 11 against further rotation. This 90 of rotation of gear 14 occurs for each complete revolution of disc 15, and accordingly for each complete revolution of main shaft 8.

This 90 of rotation of gear 14 is transmitted by appropriate gearing, described above, to impart, and accordingly index, an angular rotation of 36 to magazine 257 carrying ten stacks of targets. As noted above this is accomplished by use of a gear ratio of 2.5 to 1 in the selection of gears 215 and 226. Accordingly each complete revolution of main shaft 8, by the above described gear train, brings successive stacks of targets into register for delivery of targets to the feed shelf 12d and carrier 33.

Release of the targets from the bottom of the stacks in the rotary magazine to shelf 12b is controlled by the escapement mechanism which comprises essentially escapement assembly 235, rod 253, escapement levers 271i and 1%, and escapernent cam 1%.

Escapement lever 271i is mounted on escapement shaft 198 at about 90 to escapemcnt drive 196 with respect to the point of contact of arm 199 with escapement rod 283 and to follower 195. When follower 195 rides on receding portion 281 of escapement cam 194 escapemen-t lever 2711 is in a retracted position. Follower 195 is held against receding portion 251 through the force submitted by the action of escapement spring 214 against rod 293 and in turn against arm 1%. Since no force is exerted against arm 236 of cscapement lever 235, the resilient escapement cushion 241 is held against the periphery of the bottom target by spring 271, against guides 239 with sufhcient force to support a stack of targets above the bottom one. This bottom target and all the targets above it are thus secured against dropping. When follower 195 rides on the protuberant portion 231 of target escapement cam 194 a clockwise force is submitted through 118 and escapement lever 270 against escapement rod 203 and in turn against arm 236 of target escapement assembly 235. This applied force on arm 236 pivots escapement assembly 235 against the force of spring 271 to bring the resilient cushion out of contact with the bottom target in the stack thereby permitting it to drop upon the feed shelf which supports the stack of targets during the period of time follower 155 rides on protuberant portion 251 or" cam 194. As the receding portion 281 rotates opposite follower 155 cushion 241 closes on the second from bottom target, at a time prior to lowering of the feed shelf 121: to deliver the bottom target to carrier 33.

Mounted on base 14-5 is an angle changing motor 248 which submits by means of a flexible coupling 151 rotation to angle changing worm 152. Meshing with Worm 152 is an angle changing worm gear 154 fixedly mounted by means of key 155 on the upper portion of a rotatable shaft 153. Fixedly mounted on lower end of shaft 155 by means of key 156 is angle changing pinion 157 which turns as a unit with worm gear 154. Mounted adjacent worm 1'52 worm gear 154 shaft 153 and pinion 157 are a series of lubricant wicks 4 79 which serve to carry lubricant to the worm gearing. Shaft 153 is rotatably mounted by means of appropriate bushings into the bottom of base and into a cover plate 319 which 1 l is fixed by means of screws to the top of base 145; An angle changing idle gear 159 with (hub 167 meshes with pinion 157 and is rotatably mounted about pin 153. A control hub gear 1'70 is rotatably mounted about a shaft 171 which in turn is mounted in the bottom of base 145. Gear 170 meshes with idle gear 159 and has eccentrieally and fixedly mounted on it by means of pin 176 a hub 172. Hub 172 has formed on its upper portion a small shoulder to support an angle changing control gear 177 which is concentrically and r-otatably mounted about the upper portion of the hub 1'72.- Meshing with control gear 177 and concentrically mounted a 12 Q First assume that, instead of attaching link 178 to gear 177 at point 180 in rim of gear 177, the attachment point 180 is moved tot-he end of an infinitely long arm rigidly attached to the gear 177. With such an arrangement the control gear would. be constrained to gyrate, but not oscillate,-as the drive gear 170 and its eccentric hub 172 are rotated; the ring gear would be driven at a like constant velocity but at a reduced speed. As the imaginary with drive gear 170 is an angle changing ring gear 179 which is fixedly mounted by means of pins 102 to an angle changing disc driver 181 which in turn is fixedly mounted by means of key 183 to shaft 171 and hub of angle changing disc 150. A cover plate 184 containing an opening for disc driver 181 is mounted by means of appropriatefasteners to thetop of base 145. The top surface V hub .320 which is rigidly attached'by means of key 183 to the disc driver 181. Mounted in one of' the holes 160 by means of spread adjusting screw 185 is one end of an angle changing link 148 connected at its other end by means of pin 192 to swivel base 143. The trap is forced to move through the desired are by the angle changing link148 connected at one end to swivel base 143 and at its other end to thespread adjusting screw .185 mounted in one of the holes, in the instant embodiment one of six'holes, in the angle changing disc150. The spread or magnitude of oscillation is controlled by the crank radius of the particular hole in disc 150 in which spread adjusting screw 185 is mounted. V

i In order to prevent the shooters from guessing the direction of succeeding target launchings the trap is oscillated over the prescribed arc in a repetitive non-uniform, non-rhythmic, non-cyclic manner by a hesitant; progressively counter-clockwise rotation of the angle -en by, the controlhub drive gear 170. The angle changing control gear 177 is journaled upon the eccentric portion of the control hub and constrained to a combined oscillatory and gy'ratory motion by the angle changing I control link 178 which has an upstanding control link stud 180 engaging a hole in the rim of control gear 177 while its other end is .pivotally anchored to hub 167 of idle gear 159. The control gear 177 is in constant mesh.

with the internalteeth of angle changing ring'gear 179 which turns as a unit with, and drives, the angle changing disc driver 181 and the angle changing disc 150. I p

In the instant embodiment, control hub 172-is eccentrically formed about a concentric portion 321 about which is mounted control hub. drive gear 170. Although this specific embodiment isillustrated it is obvious that hub portion 321 is not required. As noted above drivegear 170 may be rotatably mounted on shaft 171 and control hub 172 also rotatably mounted on shaft 171 and resting on drive gear 170 or the eccentric hub 172 may be formed integrally with the gear 170.

The conversion ofthe' constant speed ofr-otationof 1 j the angle changing control hu-b172 and its'drive gear 170 to non-uniform rotation of the angle changing disc 150' may be explained astollowszx.

arm -on control gear 177 is made progressively shorter the gyra-tory motion of said control gear is modified by a superimposed oscillatory motion which in turnis trans mitted proportionately to the ring gear 179 causing periodic acceleration, deceleration, hesitation and reversal in the rotary motion of the latter.

With the extremely short imaginary arm achieved by the'connection of COHlI'OlfllDk stud 180 in the rim of gear 177 the magnitude of oscillation imparted to gear 177 is such that it rapidly advances or retards the output motion of ring gear 179 and angle changing disc 150 at various points in the cycle depending'upon the ratio of gears and proportions of the links.

The ratios and proportions in the instant embodiment were, chosen to provide a motion which in conjunction with the various rates of shooting ranging from slow to extra fast would result in a mixing of target discharge angles which would be difficult for the shooters to prediet. The specific selection of ratios and proportions will be hereinafter described together with FIGURE 16 illustrating the results of the above non-uniform motion.

In association with the electrical-system which provides bothpowerand'control for thertr-ap and which includes the motor 7,. there is a release solenoid 87 having a plunger 86 for pushing tiring pin 11'3 .slidably carried in the firing pin guide 1 14 mounted in gear housing 3 to initiate the throwing operation. Solenoid 87 is mounted by suitable fasteners under a solenoid housing'146 provided tor convenience with a hand grip 147; and housing 146 in turn is mounted by meansof screws 448 and 149 to mainspring housing 4 so as to become in effect a part of frame 2. V V The electrical-wiring system of the trap may be described best withreference to FIGURE :15 wherein power is supplied to lines .300 and 301 by means :of receptacle 298 and'plug 299 froma power source 297. Power line; 300 divides into lines 303 and 302 which latter is connected to the middle p-ole 304 of the switch unit 317 contained in switch assembly 305-. "Power line 301 is connected to the middle pole 308 of another switch unit 318 also contain-ed in switch assembly 305 and the line 301 is also connected to one pole of switch 312. The other'side of switch 312 is connected with one side of angling motor 248. i Y Switch unit 317 is a three pole unit containing poles 304, 306" and 307.- The unit is so designed that it may be locked or set to stay in contact with pole 307 or in the neutral positi-omhowever, requiring a continued and applied pressure to maintain it against contact 306 which is connected to line 313 which is connected to one side of solenoid 87 and to one pole of switch 311,- Switch 318 is similarly constructed to function in like manner as unit 317. However, unit 318 has a shunt 315 shorting contacts 309 and 310. Contact 3070f unit 317, on the other hand, is unconnected to or from any source.

Aline 3 14connectedat pole 3 10 leads and connects to the other side of solenoid 87 and into one side of trap motor 7. In practice, switch units 317 and 318 are so arranged that they are operated as a unit in closing poles 308 and 304 respectively against contacts 310 and 306.

Switch 312 mayif -desired be also contained in switch assembly 305;and the various wires leading from assembly 305 may be contained in a single insulating cable extending from the switch assembly. 'Line' 303 leads from its juncture with line300 tothe other side, or angling motor 248, to theouter side of trap motor 7 and to the lother side of switch 311. The operation of angling mofor 248 is controlled by opening or closing switch 312. In operation poles 308 and 304 are switched into contact respectively with cont-acts 309 and 307. This position of the switch units completes the circuit to trap motor 7 which is set into operation. Contact 309 also connects one side of solenoid 87 to power line 301. The circuit to solenoid 87 is completed by closing switch 311. It is to be noted that the operation of self angling motor 248 is independent of trap motor 7 and solenoid 87. Tra-p motor 7 and solenoid 87 are deactivated by opening switch units 317 and 318. These switch units provide a safety feature in that by momentarily switching poles 308 and 304 against contacts 310 and 306, solenoid 87 and motor 7 are momentarily activated to release the restraining means holding the throwing arm to release and discharge any target contained thereon, and to relieve the arm in the firing position upon release of the switch to return to neutral.

With the trap in cocked position with a target emplaced upon the carrier arm plate 33 from the stack 316 in the magazine, the target is thrown by momentarily closing the electric contacts of the release switch 311 (FIGURE 15), whereupon release solenoid 87 is energized and its plunger 86 pushes firing pin 113 against the end of firing bar 84 causing firing pawl shoulder or tooth 85 to engage with and be moved to the right by ratchet wheel "59 which is continuously turned counter-clockwise (:FIGURE 5). Thus moved, firing bar 84, acting through firing bar stud 83, exerts a force on the end of operating arm or (lever 82 of the sear member 80 which as a result is turned to lift the sear 79 out of notch 78 formed in the rim 77 of control cam 65 (FIGURES 4, 5 and 6). This releases the control cam 65, main shaft 8, target feed cam 31, throwing arm 5 and target escapement cam 194,

through sprockets 142 and 112 and link chain 115, to turn counter-clockwise in unison leaving arm 5 free to throw the target from the carrier plate 33 under the impetus of tensioned m'ainspring 6 acting from a point at which mainspring crank stud 45 is about 30 following out dead center. During the first part of the target throwing or firing operation, the follower 97 of the cock ingpawl 91 rides the proturber-ant portion 75 of cam 65 holding the cocking pawl tooth 96 from clattering along the teeth of ratchet 74 of ring gear 73 which during firing also turns counter-clockwise in the same direction as arm 5,'main shaft 8, and continuously turning sun gear 62 inasmuch as the control cam 65 carrying the planetary gears 70, 71 and 72 is turning with main shaft 8 far more rapidly under the impetus of mainspring 6 than the rate at which the planetary gears are caused to turn about planet gear studs '67, 6'8 and 69 under the impetus of the sun gear 62'Idriven by the motor '7.

At the beginning and for about the first 60 of the throwing operation target feed cam 31, acting through feed cam roll 128, target feed arm 127, and feed bracket or shelf operating roller 161, holds the target feed shelf 126 at the lower end of its travel at which shelf 126 is in line with the carrier plate 33 of rotating arm 5. At about 60 of the turning cycle of the arm measured from the cocked position, feed cam 31 begins to permit elevation of the feed shelf 126 which at about 150 of rotation arrives at the top position which is slightly below the bottom target of the stack 116. When the arm 5 and cams 194 and 31 arrive at about the 155 mark of angular travel, target escapement cam 194 causes the target escapement cushion 241 to begin opening. At the 170 position the cushion is retracted and the escapement is fully open and permits the entire stack 316 to drop a slight distance of about of an inch to upraised feed shelf 126 thereby positioning the second from bottom target opposite the cushion 241. With the stack 316 thus supported, further rotation of cam 194 to about 245 permits the cushion 241 to grip the second from bottom target under the action of spring 271. After about 260 degrees of travel, feed shelf cam 31 lowers the shelf 126 carrying only a single target by about 1 /2 inches to a position in line with the carrier plate 33 where it is picked up and carried by the carrier plate 33, during about the last 20 of its angular travel to the cooked and ready-tofire position. It is to be noted that the greatest target transfer movement is a movement of but a single supported target and not the entire stack. It is to be further noted that feed shelf 126 in coming up to take down a target from the stack stops just a bit short of meeting with the stack so as not to bump it, which would be likely to break one or more of the frangible targets.

Before target feed shelf 126 is lowered from its elevated position, at about the 240 mark of angular travel of the arm 5, the crank stud 45 has shot beyond its dead center by about and begins to oscillate back or clockwise together with control cam 65. This sudden incipient movement of reversal causes planetary gears '70, 71 and 72 to tend to reverse ring gear 73 and drive it clockwise. But since reversal of ring gear 73 is prevented by the cocking pawl 91, inasmuch as at this position of the parts, follower 97 of the pawl has dropped opposite the receding portion 76 of control cam 65 and permits cocking pawl spring 98 to force tooth 96 of the pawl against ratchet 74 of gear 73, the only action of ring gear 73 is to exert a force on the cocking pawl 91 which causes a torque force on the hold back pawl 94 and brings about clockwise (FIGURE 6) movement of pawl 54 so that it too engages with ratchet 74 of gear 73, which under these circumstances of the mechanism is secured in stationary position. With ring gear 73 thus held stationary, rotation of the sun gear 62 causes planetary gears '70, 71 and 72 to move their studs 67, 68 and 60 in the counter-clockwise direction carrying control cam 65, main shaft 8 and the throwing arm 5 until mainspring crank stud 45 arrives at the out dead center at which position mainspring 6 is fully tensioned. However at about the out dead center position which corresponds to about 30 of angular movement before throwing arm 5 arrives at the cocked ready-to-fire position, the target carried by descending target feed shelf 126 is picked up by carrier plate 33 and moved along by frictional forces with plate 33. During the last 90 rotation of main shaft 8 and of disc 15 with arm 109, the Geneva gear 14 is turned 90 to bring a new stack of targets 316 into position above the feed shelf 126. It is to be noted that with the escapement cushion 241 fully closed upon the lowermost target of those remaining in the stack 116, final descent of target feed shelf 126 has begun at about the 260 position of angular movement of arm 5 and cams 194 and 31, measured from the cocked position.

As soon as stud 45 passes beyond out dead center, the tendency of mainspring 6 in View of the stationary position of ring gear 73, held by pawl 94, is to cause the planetary gears 70, 71 and 72 to turn ahead rolling upon the internal teeth of the stationary ring gear 73 faster than motor 7 drives them. As a result, the effort of mainspring 6 is to drive motor 7 which in turn effects dynamic braking of the main shaft 8 and the arm 5 and the other parts carried on shaft 8. This feature of the mechanism of this invention eliminates the shock which ordinarily would occur just prior to and at placement of arm 5 in cocked ready-to-fire position. Such shock would disrupt the proper positioning of the target on the carrier plate 33.

When the control cam 65 during cocking has been turned to allow sear 79 to fall into notch '78, arm 5 has arrived at the cocked or ready-to-fire position. Here follower 97 has engaged with protuberant portion 75 of cam 65 and has lifted pawl 91 from ratchet 74 of gear 73. This permits gear 73 to turn clockwise again; and as a result of the change in direction, hold back pawl 94 is ejected from ratchet 74. Magnet 99 then engages with the pawl 94 and keeps it disengaged from ratchet 74 until the next cycle.

.the magazine base.

It is to be noted (FIGURE 8) that the loaded target I oncarrier arm 5, just before the arm arrives in the last mentioned position, which is to say the ready-t'o-fire position, comes intocontact with the target feed-finger 162 pivotally mounted at 163 on a depending feed finger bracket 164 depending below annular portion. 218 of Target feed finger 162 is yieldably held in position by gravity, and is adapted to be turned .up out of the way- When-carrier arm 5 is released to project. the target; Until the target however is released feed finger 162 serves to'guide the single target upon plate 33 to the ready-to-throw position against target stop'finger 168 of assembly 120, and target guide button 169 located retractably on-target shelf 126 (FIGURE 7).. Stop finger 168 whichserves to hold the target in the ready-to-throw position is pivotally and retractvably mounted by means of pins 123 on bracket 121.

which in turnis mounted on theframe 2. Target stop finger. 168 is yieldably held to project upwardly intoposition by means of spring 117 one endof which is attached to finger 168 while the other is attached to bracket 121. Proper positioning of finger 168 is assured by slot 124 in bracket 121 (FIGURE 8). It is to b'e'observed that when release switch 311 is closed to cause carrierarm 5 and its plate 33 and rail 34 togo into throwing operation, feed finger 162 moves up out of the way to clear armS and stop' finger 168 is turned. vdown as carrier plate33 passes over it. Under these circumstances the loaded target is free to commence movement on plate 33 along rail 34 and be'thrown. It is to be noted thatslot 124 has a path which'permits finger 168 to lock in a retracted position below the angular path of carrier 33. Finger 294 isv similarly attached to bracket 121 and may be set in the retracted position during the operation of the trap for singles. However, in operation of the trap for doubles, the rotary magazine assembly 257 is removed from the trap and stop finger 168 and target guide button 169 are locked in their retracted position, whereas finger 294 is set to yieldingly protrude above the angular pathof carrier 33. on the use. ofthe trap'for doubles, while the carrier 33 is in the cocked position, finger 294 together withrail 34 serves 'as a guide and a holder for the outermost target which is placed against the finger .and rail.. The inner target is located by placing it against the outermost target and against rail 3 clearly seen, the retraction of guide button 169 permits ,the inner target to be set and discharged without hindrance and/or obstruction.

When the switch 311 of the trap is open, and'switch units 317 and 318 have been momentarily-closed against contacts 306 and 310 followed by their positioning into the neutral position in which condition motor 7 is stopped, the trap after firing is inoperable and'th'rowing arm .5 is in the fired position as shownin FIGURES 1' and 2.

In this position, mainspiingcrank stud 45 is standing at the in dead center while within'the gear housing 3 78. about. 150 counter-clockwise from the cocked position shown in FIGURE 6. At this condition of the trap;

sear 79 is resting upon the rim 77 of the control cam ,65 out of notch 78 andat the same time follower 97 of the cocking pawl 91 is disposed beyond the "trailing end of the protuberant portion 75 at the leading or initial portion of the recessed portion 76 of the control cam 65- whichpermits the cocking pawl finger 96 to rest in the ratchet teeth 74 of ringgear 73 under the force of compressed cocking'pawl-spring 98 while the sembly 305 of the trap isclosed against contacts 307 and 309, the first thing that happens as soon as themotor As can be 7 has gone into continuous operation, is thatsun gear 62 acting through planetary gears 70, 71 and 72, rolls theplanetary gears, the control cam 65 and the arm 5 counter-clockwise (FIGURE 6) until sear 79 falls into notch 78, just before which time follower 97 on cocking pawl 91 rides up on protuberant portion 75 of control'carn 65, causing the finger 96 of cocking pawl 91 to be disengaged from ratchet 74'of ring gear 73. This gear 73then goes into clockwise motion the first effect of which. is to throw the hold back pawl 94 toward magnet 99 which servesas a detent keeping hold back pawl 94 out of the ratchet of the idling ring gear 73. It is to be noted that on the first cocking stroke from the fired position, a target is fed from the magazine just as if thearm 5 had previously been cooked and gone through a complete cycle.

It is to be noted that when switch 312 is open, angling .motor 248 is not activated, and the trap is not oscillated. When switch 312 is closed, the various components of the novel angling gear train are set in motion to deliver the novel angling functiondescribed above. With switch 312 open, and magazine 257 removed, the trap may be. used :for doubles by retracting stop finger 168 and guide button 169 and setting stop finger 294 to protrude above the angular path of carrier 33. Indoubles the outermost target is placed on carrier 33 against finger 294 and rail 34, and the inner target against the outermost target and against rail 34. With trap motor activated, by-closure of switch units 317 and 318, the two targets are dis- .is independent of the activation of trap motor 7 so that the trap mechanism may beoperated individually and apart from the angling mechanism; 7

Themagnitude :or spread of the targets, by the angling mechanism is controlled by appropriate selection of one of the holes, in angle changing disc 150, into which angle changing link 148 is connected by'means of spread ad- .justing screw 185. Correction for variation due to the eifect of wind, is accomplished by appropriate selection of --windage adjusting holes 252 into which windage adjust- ;ing pin 285 is inserted. Rotation of base 144 is facilitated by windage adjusting handle 242..

the control cam is positioned soas to dispose notch From the foregoingdescription it isilobvious that in accordance with this invention anew and compact selfangling target throwing'apparatus is providedwith desirable operating characteristics. The apparatus of this invention has thefurther advantage of automatic loadthat the apparatus of this invention is advantageous in the art of'trapshooting' and that the objects and advantages are accordingly accomplished.

Although the invention has been described with reference tospe'cificembodiments and details, various modififcations'and changes willbe apparent to one skilled in the art. 'The'inve ntion is, therefore, not to be limited by ing'a plurality of targets for timed delivery to said throw- .ing arm comprising a rotary magazine detachably mounted on said frarne and having in annular arrangement a plurality of holders for stacksof targets, individualresil- 'ient'escapement means for each of said stacks with said 

